Playdate Etiquette for Parents

Photo by: Len Irish

My 12-Year-Old and Her Best Friend Broke Up. Does This Mean the End of My Coffee Dates with Her Mom?

Just because your child has outgrown her friendship doesn't mean you've outgrown yours. "Don't force the girls to interact," says Abrahams, "but you're old enough to choose your own friends, even if your daughter thinks they're a bad influence on you." (You should still be sensitive to her feelings; she doesn't necessarily have ... more 

Photo by: Len Irish

My 12-Year-Old and Her Best Friend Broke Up. Does This Mean the End of My Coffee Dates with Her Mom?

Just because your child has outgrown her friendship doesn't mean you've outgrown yours. "Don't force the girls to interact," says Abrahams, "but you're old enough to choose your own friends, even if your daughter thinks they're a bad influence on you." (You should still be sensitive to her feelings; she doesn't necessarily have to know about the get-togethers.) Post recommends that you and your friend "agree to stay out of the argument. The girls could be best pals again next week." Of course, since these are 12-year-olds, it's possible that at least one of them resorted to mean-girl behavior, in which case you and the other mom might need to talk about it. To cut the awkwardness, Post advises, approach the issue as a mutual problem: "Say, 'They were such good friends. I can't believe this has happened between them.' " less